Terms & Conditions

These Terms & Conditions (“Terms”) govern access to and use of the Velvet mobile application (iOS and Android), the website velvet-meet.com, and all related features, digital services, community areas, in-app purchases, moderation systems, support channels, and future functionalities (collectively, the “Service”).

By downloading, accessing, registering for, or using the Service in any manner, you confirm that you have read, understood, and agreed to be legally bound by these Terms, the Privacy Policy, and any Community Rules incorporated herein by reference. If you do not agree, you must immediately discontinue use of the Service.

1. Operator and Contractual Relationship

The Service is operated by Velvet, a sole proprietorship based in Switzerland. At launch, the platform is operated by Giordano Rausa, located at Bellevuestrasse 1A, 9400 Rorschach, Switzerland. Full legal entity details will be published in the official imprint once finalized.

By creating an account or otherwise using the Service, you enter into a legally binding contractual relationship with Velvet, which is governed exclusively by these Terms and applicable Swiss law, except where mandatory local consumer protection laws provide otherwise.

Velvet reserves the right to engage affiliates, contractors, or service providers in performing its obligations under the Service, without requiring prior consent from users.

2. Eligibility and Age Restriction

The Service is strictly limited to individuals who are at least 18 years old. By creating an account or using the Service, you represent and warrant that you are 18 years of age or older.

During registration, you are required to provide your date of birth and confirm your age. Access to the Service is not permitted for users under the age of 18, and accounts identified as belonging to minors will be denied registration or permanently removed.

Velvet reserves the right to request age or identity verification at any time where reasonably necessary to ensure compliance with these Terms, platform policies, or applicable law. Failure to provide requested verification information may result in restricted access, suspension, or termination of the account.

Velvet may apply additional age or identity verification measures in certain jurisdictions where required by law, regulation, or platform requirements. Access to the Service may be limited until such verification is successfully completed.

Velvet maintains a zero-tolerance policy toward any content or behavior involving minors, including grooming, exploitation, or child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Such accounts will be immediately terminated and may be reported to relevant law enforcement authorities where legally required. Relevant data may be preserved for investigative purposes in accordance with applicable law.

3. Nature of the Service

Velvet is a social discovery and communication platform that enables users to connect with others, add contacts, exchange messages, images, documents and other media, and interact through profiles and user posts.

Users may discover other users through profile browsing, explore features, and map-based discovery tools.

Profiles may display limited personal information voluntarily provided by users, including name, age, approximate location (such as city or region), photos, biography, and interests.

Velvet may display approximate distance or general location indicators to help users discover nearby people. These indications are estimates only and are intentionally imprecise. The Service does not display or share precise real-time location data. Map features show generalized position markers that do not represent a user’s exact location.

Velvet does not verify the accuracy of profile information and does not perform background checks on users.

Connections and conversations are initiated solely by users. Velvet does not provide matchmaking or partner-selection services and does not guarantee responses, interactions, compatibility, meetings, relationships, or any specific outcome between users.

All user content is created and provided by users. Velvet acts solely as a technical intermediary providing communication and discovery tools.

Any interactions, communications, or offline meetings between users occur entirely at their own risk. Velvet does not supervise, control, or assume responsibility for user behavior online or offline.

Availability of other users, responses, and behavior are outside Velvet’s control.

3.1 Intermediary Status

Velvet operates solely as a technical hosting and communication intermediary that enables users to publish content and communicate with one another. Velvet is not the publisher or speaker of user-generated content and does not endorse, verify, or approve any content posted, transmitted, or shared by users.

Users remain solely responsible for all content they create, upload, send, or otherwise make available through the Service.

Velvet has no general obligation to proactively monitor user content or private communications. However, Velvet may take voluntary monitoring measures where reasonably necessary to ensure platform safety, prevent abuse, and comply with legal obligations.

Velvet does not conduct background checks on users unless legally required. Users interact at their own risk. Velvet is not responsible for the conduct of users on or off the platform.

The Service may evolve over time. Features may be added, modified, restricted, or discontinued at Velvet’s sole discretion without prior notice or compensation.

3.2 Private Communications

The Service includes private one-to-one and group messaging between users. Messages may include text, images, documents, and other media files.

Velvet does not routinely read or monitor private conversations.

However, Velvet may process limited portions of communications where reasonably necessary and proportionate to:

• respond to user reports or complaints

• investigate suspected violations of these Terms

• detect spam, fraud, or abusive behavior through rule-based signals triggered by user reports or behavioral risk patterns and manual review

• ensure user safety

• comply with legal obligations

Any access to communications is limited to what is necessary for the specific safety or legal purpose and is performed through manual review following a report or identified risk signal. Velvet may introduce automated detection safeguards in the future as the Service evolves; any such technical safeguards will be disclosed in updated Terms and the Privacy Policy.

Velvet does not use private messages for advertising profiling.

Users share content and communicate at their own risk.

3.3 Discovery Features

The Service may provide features that allow users to discover other users based on approximate location, distance indicators, profile information, or global browsing tools (such as map-based discovery or explore features).

Displayed distances and locations are approximate and may be inaccurate or intentionally generalized for privacy and safety reasons. Velvet does not guarantee the accuracy of proximity information.

Users are solely responsible for how they use discovery features and for any interactions resulting from them, whether online or offline.

3.4 Public and Interactive Content

The Service may allow users to publish temporary or interactive content visible to other users, including posts, comments, reactions, or similar community interactions.

Such content is user-generated and may be visible beyond private conversations for a limited time period determined by the feature design.

Velvet does not pre-screen public or interactive content and is not responsible for the accuracy, legality, or reliability of user-generated content.

Users remain solely responsible for any content they publish and for interactions arising from it.

4. Account Registration and Security

Velvet uses a password-free authentication system via Google login or SMS-based phone verification. You are solely responsible for maintaining the security of your device and any third-party login credentials.

You agree not to share access to your account, create multiple accounts for abusive purposes, or impersonate another person. Velvet reserves the right to suspend or terminate accounts that violate these Terms or present security risks.

Velvet shall not be liable for unauthorized access resulting from user negligence, compromised devices, or external authentication providers.

Velvet may introduce optional profile or account verification features in the Service. If available, verification only confirms that certain information was provided at the time of the process and does not guarantee a user’s identity, authenticity, intentions or behaviour.

5. User Conduct and Prohibited Activities

Users must use the Service in a lawful, respectful, and responsible manner.

You are solely responsible for your behavior, communications, and interactions with other users, both on and off the Service.

Velvet does not actively observe every interaction in real time and cannot guarantee the conduct, identity, intentions, or safety of any user. However, Velvet applies moderation processes and safety measures intended to reduce harmful behavior as described in Section 8.1.

Prohibited Conduct

The following behavior is not permitted on the Service:

• harassment, intimidation, threats, stalking, or unwanted sexual advances

• hate speech or discriminatory behavior

• impersonation, fraud, deception, or misleading identity

• sharing illegal content or non-consensual intimate material

• attempting to bypass safety features or enforcement measures

Commercial Sexual Activity

The Service may not be used for commercial sexual or transactional purposes. This includes, but is not limited to:

• escorting, prostitution, or compensated dating arrangements

• requesting money, gifts, cryptocurrency, or compensation in exchange for meetings or intimacy

• advertising or recruiting for adult services

• organizing paid meetups or transactional encounters

• linking to external adult platforms for solicitation purposes

Content and Safety Violations

Users may not:

• post pornographic content in public areas of the Service

• repeatedly send sexually explicit or unwanted messages

• create fake profiles or misrepresent identity

• attempt to contact users after being blocked

Velvet maintains a zero-tolerance policy toward child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and exploitation of minors. Such accounts will be immediately terminated and may be reported to law enforcement where required.

Enforcement

Velvet may take enforcement action when violations are detected or reasonably suspected. Actions may include:

• content removal

• feature restriction

• temporary suspension

• permanent account termination

Enforcement decisions are made following moderation review, safety assessment, or user reports. Preventative safety measures and account risk controls are described in Section 8.1.

Users do not have a contractual right to continued access to the Service.

6. User-Generated Content and License

Users retain ownership of the content they create and upload.

By submitting content to the Service, you grant Velvet a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free license to host, store, reproduce, transmit, display, and distribute such content solely for the purpose of operating, providing, maintaining, improving, and securing the Service and its features.

This license does not grant Velvet the right to use user content for external advertising or marketing purposes outside the Service without separate explicit consent from the user.

This license remains valid only for as long as the content remains on the Service and for a limited period thereafter where necessary for backup storage, legal compliance, or dispute resolution.

Velvet does not review, approve, or pre-screen content prior to publication and is not the publisher of user-generated content. Users remain solely responsible for all content they create, upload, send, or otherwise make available through the Service.

Velvet is not obligated to monitor content but may do so to enforce policies, investigate violations, or comply with legal obligations.

Velvet cannot prevent screenshots, external sharing, or redistribution of user content and is not liable for any such use by third parties.

7. Virtual Items and In-App Purchases

Velvet may offer optional paid digital features (“Virtual Items”), including but not limited to profile boosts, visibility features, pins, ghost mode, or similar limited-use functionalities.

Virtual Items enhance functionality within the Service and do not constitute a subscription, membership, financial instrument, or property right.

Purchase Method

Virtual Items may only be purchased through the official in-app purchase systems provided by the respective platform operator (such as the Apple App Store or Google Play Store) and are subject to the billing terms and policies of that platform.

Velvet does not collect or store full payment card information.

License — No Ownership

Virtual Items are licensed, not sold.

You obtain a limited, personal, non-transferable, non-sublicensable, revocable license to use Virtual Items solely within the Service.

Virtual Items:

· have no monetary value

· cannot be exchanged for money or real-world goods

· cannot be transferred, resold, or redeemed

· do not constitute personal property

Velvet may modify, replace, suspend, remove, or discontinue Virtual Items at any time, including their availability, functionality, or effects, without liability to you.

Consumption and Availability

Virtual Items are consumed upon activation or use.

Certain Virtual Items provide temporary functionality that lasts only for the duration of the activated feature.

Unused Virtual Items remain available in the account until used, unless the account is deleted, suspended, terminated, or the Service changes.

Virtual Items may be revoked if obtained through fraud, abuse, or violation of these Terms.

Refunds

All purchases are final and non-refundable except where required by mandatory law or the applicable platform provider’s policies.

Refund requests for purchases made through the Apple App Store or Google Play Store must be directed to the respective platform provider in accordance with their billing policies.

EU / EEA / UK / Switzerland Users

By completing a purchase, you expressly request immediate performance of the digital content and acknowledge that access begins immediately after purchase.

You understand and agree that you may lose any statutory right of withdrawal once the Virtual Item has been delivered or used, where permitted by applicable law.

Chargebacks and Payment Reversals

Initiating unjustified chargebacks, payment disputes, or reversals may result in suspension or termination of your account and revocation of associated Virtual Items.

Velvet reserves the right to recover incurred fees, damages, and administrative costs resulting from abusive payment disputes to the extent permitted by law.

8. Moderation and Notice-and-Takedown

Velvet maintains moderation measures designed to enforce these Terms and protect users.

Reporting

Users may report content or behavior that violates these Terms through the in-app reporting tools. Reports are reviewed by moderation as part of Velvet’s safety enforcement process.

Velvet prioritizes reports involving clear safety risks (for example, child sexual abuse material, credible threats of violence, or financial exploitation) for immediate escalation to manual review and preservation of evidence.

Submitting false, abusive, or malicious reports may itself constitute a violation of these Terms.

Review and Enforcement

Velvet does not continuously monitor all user content or communications.

However, Velvet may review content or communications where reasonably necessary to:

• enforce these Terms

• investigate violations or illegal activity

• detect fraud, spam, or abusive behavior

• ensure user safety

• comply with legal obligations

Upon detection of violations, Velvet may take appropriate action, including:

• removal of content

• feature restrictions

• temporary suspension

• permanent account termination

Enforcement actions may occur without prior notice where necessary for safety or legal compliance.

Repeat Violations and Ban Evasion

Users may not attempt to bypass enforcement actions, including by creating replacement accounts after suspension or termination. Such behavior may result in permanent banning of associated accounts, identifiers, or devices.

Legal Disclosure

Velvet may preserve and disclose relevant user information to competent authorities where required to investigate illegal activity, protect users, or comply with legal obligations.

Platform Role

Velvet acts as a technical intermediary and does not assume responsibility for user-generated content unless required by applicable law after obtaining actual knowledge of illegal content and failing to act.

8.1 Trust, Safety and User Protection

Velvet is designed as a social interaction platform where users may communicate and meet in real life. To reduce harmful interactions and protect users, Velvet implements preventative safety measures in addition to reactive moderation.

Proactive Safety Systems

Velvet applies preventative safety measures intended to reduce harmful interactions before user reports occur.

Safety review is performed through manual moderation, account review procedures, rule-based indicators reviewed by moderation, including spam, harassment patterns, impersonation, and suspected scams.

Velvet can temporarily limit account features, visibility, or messaging ability while a safety review is conducted.
These measures are precautionary and do not constitute a final determination of wrongdoing.

Velvet continuously improves its safety processes and may introduce additional automated or technical safeguards as the Service evolves.

User Control Tools

Users are provided with safety controls within the Service, including the ability to block other users, stop conversations, and report behavior.
Blocking immediately prevents further interaction through the platform.
Reporting tools are accessible directly from profiles and conversations to allow rapid escalation of concerns.

Velvet limits contact attempts, restricts message frequency, and reduces visibility of accounts exhibiting disruptive or unsafe behavior.

Financial Safety and Scam Prevention

Velvet is not a payment or transaction platform. Users must not send money, financial information, or valuables to other users.

Velvet actively discourages off-platform payments and may restrict or suspend accounts where financial exploitation risk indicators are detected.

Common warning signs of scams may include:
• requests for money, cryptocurrency, or gift cards
• urgent personal emergencies requiring funds
• attempts to move conversations immediately to external platforms
• inconsistent identity information
• refusal to video call or verify identity

Users are solely responsible for financial decisions made with other users.

Safe Meeting Guidance

Velvet does not supervise in-person meetings. Users should take precautions when meeting someone offline:

• meet in a public place
• inform a trusted person about the meeting
• avoid sharing private addresses early
• do not accept transportation from strangers on first meeting
• avoid alcohol or substances that impair judgment
• never send money or valuables to someone you have not met safely
• trust your instincts and leave if you feel uncomfortable

Velvet may provide safety guidance within the Service.

9. Privacy and Data Protection

Personal data is processed in accordance with the Privacy Policy, which forms an integral part of these Terms. By using the Service, you acknowledge that personal data processing is necessary for performance of the contract and protection of legitimate interests, including platform safety and fraud prevention.

10. User Disputes

Velvet is not a party to any agreements, representations, promises, payments, or disputes between users. Users are solely responsible for resolving conflicts arising from their interactions. Velvet assumes no responsibility for losses or damages resulting from user disputes

11. Disclaimers

The Service is provided on an “as is” and “as available” basis. Velvet makes no warranties, express or implied, regarding uninterrupted availability, error-free operation, user behavior, compatibility outcomes, or fitness for a particular purpose.

Velvet does not guarantee that users are truthful, safe, or acting in good faith. Offline interactions are conducted entirely at the user’s own risk. Velvet does not verify user identities and does not conduct background checks unless legally required. Any offline meetings, interactions, or arrangements between users occur entirely at their own risk. Velvet shall not be responsible for any injury, loss, damage, or harm arising from in-person meetings or off-platform interactions.

Users may receive messages, files, links, images, or other content from other users. Velvet does not routinely monitor or pre-screen such content and does not endorse it, and makes no representations regarding its legality, safety, accuracy, or reliability.

Velvet is not responsible for any loss, damage, fraud, extortion, or harm resulting from user-shared content, external links, third-party websites, file downloads, or information exchanged between users.

Users are solely responsible for verifying the authenticity of other users and for deciding whether to open links, download files, send money, share personal information, or meet offline.

12. Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, Velvet shall be liable only for damages resulting from intentional misconduct or gross negligence. As a hosting intermediary, Velvet has no obligation to monitor all content and shall not be liable for user-generated content except where liability arises under mandatory law following actual knowledge and failure to act.

Velvet’s total aggregate liability arising out of or relating to the Service shall not exceed the amount paid by the user to Velvet in the preceding twelve months, or CHF 100, whichever is higher, unless mandatory law provides otherwise.

Velvet cannot prevent screenshots, external sharing, or redistribution of user content and is not liable for any such use by third paries.

Nothing in these Terms excludes liability for personal injury, death, or any other liability which cannot be excluded under applicable law.

Velvet shall not be liable for loss of data, deleted messages, unavailable contacts, missed connections, unsuccessful interactions, or lack of responses from other users.

Velvet does not guarantee visibility, reach, engagement, or effectiveness of any profile, post, or paid feature.

Velvet shall not be liable for service interruptions, delays, bugs, technical errors, maintenance, server downtime, or feature malfunctions.

Velvet shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, consequential, reputational, emotional, or economic damages arising from use of the Service.

13. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Velvet, its affiliates, directors, employees, contractors, and partners from any claims, demands, damages, losses, liabilities, costs, or expenses (including legal fees) arising out of or related to:

· your use of the Service

· your interactions or meetings with other users, whether online or offline

· content you create, upload, send, or share

· violation of these Terms

· violation of applicable law

· infringement of third-party rights

· misleading information or impersonation

· harassment, fraud, exploitation, or harmful conduct toward other users

Velvet is not responsible for user behavior or for disputes between users.

You remain solely responsible for your actions and communications.

14. Termination

Velvet may suspend or terminate your account at any time, with or without notice, for violation of these Terms, security concerns, legal risk, or business reasons.

Upon termination, access to the Service ceases immediately. Users are not entitled to compensation, restoration of content, or refunds except where required by mandatory law.

Users whose accounts have been terminated may not create new accounts without prior written authorization from Velvet.

Users may submit an appeal of an enforcement action through the support contact provided in the Service. Velvet will review appeals within a reasonable timeframe.

Attempts to circumvent enforcement actions, including creating replacement accounts after suspension or termination, are prohibited and may result in permanent banning of associated accounts or devices.

After termination, Velvet may retain limited account identifiers to prevent re-registration and enforce platform safety.

Upon account deletion or termination, all Virtual Items, digital features, in-app entitlements, and related benefits are permanently removed and cannot be restored, transferred, or refunded, except where required by mandatory law.

15. Intellectual Property

All intellectual property rights in the Service, including software, branding, design, logos, and proprietary systems, remain the exclusive property of Velvet or its licensors.

Users are granted a limited, non-transferable, revocable license to use the Service for personal, non-commercial purposes.

16. Governing Law and Jurisdiction

These Terms and any dispute arising out of or relating to the Service shall be governed by the substantive laws of Switzerland, excluding conflict-of-law principles.

To the extent permitted by applicable law, claims or disputes shall be brought before the competent courts at the registered seat of Velvet in Switzerland.

Before initiating legal proceedings, you agree to first contact Velvet and attempt to resolve the dispute informally for at least thirty (30) days.

To the fullest extent permitted by law:

• disputes should be brought on an individual basis and not as part of a representative proceeding

• collective or class-type proceedings may be limited where legally permissible

• participation in representative claims may be restricted where allowed by applicable law

Where mandatory consumer protection law requires otherwise, users retain all non-waivable legal rights and may bring claims before the legally competent court of their place of residence.

Electronic acceptance of these Terms constitutes a legally binding agreement.

17. Amendments

Velvet reserves the right to amend these Terms at any time. The most recent version published within the Service shall apply. Continued use after amendments constitutes acceptance where legally permissible.

18. Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect.

19. Contact

For legal inquiries, contact:
info@velvet-meet.com